Welsh Liberal Democrats

Welsh Lib Dems seek consensus on Assembly Votes at 16

December 19, 2014 4:52 PM

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Kirsty Williams is seeking cross-party consensus to let the Welsh Assembly set the voting age in Wales, so it can be lowered to 16 in time for the 2016 Assembly elections.

Kirsty Williams has drafted a letter to Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb asking for the power to lower the voting age be devolved to the Welsh Assembly, and has asked the other three Welsh party leaders to co-sign it.

Kirsty Williams AM, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:

"The UK Government has already given Scotland the power to lower the voting age in time for the next Scottish Parliament elections. I'm writing to the Welsh Secretary because Wales should be offered that same opportunity.

"I have asked my fellow Welsh party leaders to co-sign this letter so we can not only bring more powers closer to the people of Wales, but so we can end the injustice of 16 and 17 year olds in Wales being denied the vote.

"The Scottish referendum demonstrated that 16 and 17 year olds are perfectly capable of casting an informed vote. Combined with the expansion of political education that the Welsh Lib Dems also support, this move will almost certainly create an informed and engaged generation who will end up being voters for life."